Who will Beyond Paradise’s Humphrey sack? Our theory may surprise you

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Fans of the Paradise universe have a lot to look forward to! Beyond Paradise is returning to television, which is welcome news especially since the season finale of Death in Paradise airs on the very same day.

The new season of the show began with a typical chaotic situation for Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton), who discovered their houseboat had floated away while they were sleeping.

The newlyweds faced more trouble when they learned the repairs to their houseboat would be extensive. This ultimately led them to buy a traditional house sooner than expected – Humphrey felt it was too soon. Marshall admitted this was difficult for his character, DI Goodman. “He’s lost something he really cherished,” the actor explained to Digital Spy.

As a big fan, I already knew things were about to get really tough for Humphrey! It’s been hinted at for a while, even before the show started. The BBC let slip that he’s going to have to let one of his team at Shipton Abbott go – they’re making him downsize the force, and it’s going to be a really difficult decision for him.

This is heartbreaking for Humphrey. He finally found a great place to live in Devon after leaving Saint Marie and starting over, and he’d become very close to the people he worked with, essentially creating a family with them.

Humphrey was really upset about his situation and told Martha he didn’t know what to do. Unless he can convince his bosses at The Hub to stop the planned cuts, he sees only one option. And it definitely won’t involve Margo (Felicity Montagu).

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While the receptionist appears uninvolved in current investigations, that’s not actually the case – she’s more connected than it seems.

Margo is incredibly versatile, handling much more than just answering the phone. She responds to calls from victims, the general public, reporters, and other agencies – basically anyone who calls in. While detectives are out investigating, Margo researches potential leads. She’s central to the Devon team, and her deep understanding of the community is a huge help in solving cases. Margo is essential; the team wouldn’t function nearly as well without her.

She’s likely the station’s lowest-paid worker, so the station would save more money by letting someone else go.

Don’t underestimate Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn). He frequently handles the most challenging cases, often finding himself in high-speed pursuits around Shipton Abbott, and he’s a vital member of the team.

He takes on the strangest, least important cases, which allows the experienced detectives to focus on more complex investigations. While they handle serious crimes like murders, he deals with things like rescuing snowmen from trash cans and helping shopkeepers who’ve had dog waste bags stolen.

This is incredibly disappointing, but it means Zahra Ahmadi’s character, Esther, is the only one the team can’t overcome. Losing any other character would have been just as difficult, though.

Although her unique approach helped solve the case, having two experienced detectives isn’t essential. Since Humphrey’s job is safe, it seems likely that Esther will be the one let go, as eliminating her position would save The Hub a considerable amount of money.

The episode suggests Esther might be thinking about making some big changes in her life. This idea comes up when she’s talking with her daughter, Zoe (Melina Sinadinou), at Martha’s restaurant, where Zoe admits she’s feeling restless.

She feels like everyone around her is busy and living full lives, while she’s stuck in a rut. Nothing new or exciting has happened to her in a long time – she feels like she’s been in the same place for weeks, months, and almost the entire past year.

I have a feeling one day I’ll wake up and realize I’ve gotten old, and I’m still living by myself in Shipton Abbott.

Esther immediately feels a sense of alarm. You can see her thinking deeply, her eyes showing the effort. She seems to be questioning herself, wondering if this situation somehow reflects her own life and if she’s been living it to the fullest.

She told Zoe she couldn’t imagine anything more awful, and it seems like she might have said that on purpose, considering when she said it.

Humphrey’s affection for Esther might be exactly what she needs to turn her life around, particularly since her ex, Archie, has started a new chapter. With Zoe also contemplating a big change, Esther could finally have the space to focus on her own happiness and needs as a single mother – something she hasn’t been able to do before.

Look, getting rid of Ahmadi on the show would be a total dealbreaker, honestly. So, I’m really hoping for two things to happen this season to avoid that.

We hope Esther rediscovers what makes her life meaningful and understands that Shipton Abbott is her true home.

We’re hoping Humphrey can convince The Hub to reconsider the planned cuts. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a positive outcome as the season continues.

Beyond Paradise, Death in Paradise and Return to Paradise air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.

Read more Beyond Paradise news on our dedicated homepage

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2026-03-28 00:20